NELSON Bay Gropers Rugby Club continue to foster their home grown talent in the Hunter Junior Rugby Union competitions.

Four of the Gropers’ eleven junior teams feature in this weekend’s semi finals action at the Gibbs Bros Park in Singleton – a testimony of the club’s overall depth.

The Gropers’ Junior Rugby secretary Matthew Findlay told News Of The Area that the club had enjoyed a “prosperous 2024 campaign”.

“We are excited to have four teams in the finals this year including both boys and girls sides which is a great fillip for the area,” quipped an ecstatic Findlay.

“The club has experienced stronger interest than last year and is up twenty one per cent in membership with three new teams and now finals participation,” he added.

Nelson Bay’s talented Under 13s Boys and Girls squads both qualified for the finals along with the Under 15 Girls and Under 18 Boys outfits.

The Gropers Under 18 Boys side finished third after the preliminary rounds and meet the Wanderers in an elimination final this Sunday.

Under the guidance of coach Matt Afflick, the team has proved a force to be reckoned with.

They boast three outstanding prospects in centre Xavier Stewart, hooker Hayden Wilson and fullback Tom Akbal – all members of the club’s premiership winning Under 18s squad in 2023.

Other players to watch include centre Oscar Afflick, goalkicking ace Ty George and skilful fly half Nash Campbell.

The Under 15 Girls also finished third and now face a sudden death finals tussle with Singleton this Friday night.

Players to shine this season include promising centres Daisy Clark and Amelia Cashen, flanker Zoe Smith and tireless lock forward Adryane Montgomery.

Nelson Bay’s powerful Under 13 Boys squad finished second behind minor premiers Merewether with both clubs scheduled to meet in a Grand Final qualifier this Saturday.

The side is coached by James Kelman and boasts top prospects in hooker Mason Kelman and number eight Axel Kelman as well as flanker Kade Lawson, centre Leon Calder and lock forward Isaac Seehusen.

Mason and Axel are two siblings with bright futures and have spearheaded the team’s success in 2024.

Former dual international Francis Cullimore has unearthed some exciting talent in the Nelson Bay Under 13 Girls team that claimed fourth spot.

He is a five time multiple sporting professional who has represented New Zealand in rugby league sevens and Australia in rugby sevens.

Cullimore played NRL with the Auckland Warriors, Illawarra Steelers and Manly Sea Eagles and represented the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby.

The Gropers coach also fought as a mixed martial arts fighter and trained in natural bodybuilding and appeared in the nation’s top hit TV show Australian Ninja Warriors.

His twin daughters Pippi and Fern Cullimore are utility players to keep an eye on for this Friday night’s elimination final against Merewether.

Other rising stars include twelve year old prop Cleo Kerapa, elusive winger Rahf Kareem and crafty fly half Avalon Warrington.

By Chris KARAS